Recording device



Feb. 23, 1960 J. J. PHILLIPS, JR

RECORDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1957 FIG.Z. r;

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'ATTORNEV ZSZQOSS RECORDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1957 FIG.3.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent RECORDING DEVICE John J. Phillips, J12, Watertown, Mass., assignor to Phillips Scientific Corporation,- Brighton, Mass,- a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 16, 1957, Serial No. 678,492

2 Claims. '(Cl. 346-111) This invention relates to an improvedrecording apparatus of the type in which a body .of sheetmaterial, for example, in rolled form or in folded web form, or the like, is supported in a position to provide a substantially continuous writing surface, and a cooperating pen, stylus, or other suitable marking means, is mounted in close proximity to the sheet material in a position where movement of the pen and writing surface relative to one another can be selectively carried out.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 420,568 tiled April 2, 1954, now abandoned.

In a preferred form, the invention is exemplified by a specific recording arrangement which i especially devised to operate in conjunction with an apparatus for chromatographic analysis of samples of chemical materials, which apparatus is more fully described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 228,845, filed May 29, 1951, now abandoned.

It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to use with chromatographic analysis apparatus noted above either in the form shown in the drawings or in other forms, and I may desire to embody the basic components and elements of my invention in various other connections when recording of variables is desired.

It is, in general, a principal object of the invention to improve recording devices and to devise especially a control mechanism for positioning and actuating recording means and to do this in a novel and highly selective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved recording device particularly suited for use with a chromatographic analysis apparatus of the type noted above.

Still another object is to devise a combination of replaceable inking means and means for engaging the inking means with a recording surface in a novel manner.

These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevational view of a chromatographic analysis apparatus having mounted at the left-hand side thereof the recording device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the chromatographic analysis apparatus and further illustrating the recording device as viewed from the side;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the pen holding section of my improved recording device further illustrating a supporting platen arranged in cooperating relationship with the pen member itself;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the complete movable carriage assembly for producing movement of the pen along two different directions, as

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desired, and further disclosing a sheet material for receiving marks thereon with the sheet material being arranged below the marking device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view enlarged to more clearly reveal the details of construction of a holding guide element which operates to maintain the sheet material in proper position at all times;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in cross-section, similar to Fig. 3,

but showing the pen of Fig. 3 in a fully advanced con tact position;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a typical ball point pen construction illustrating the relative positions of ink and ball in a working position.

In the structure shown in the drawings, arrow A indicates generally a chromatographic analysis apparatus of the type described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 228,845, filed May 29, 1951, above noted. This apparatus includes a rear wall 2 and two side panel sections 4 and 6, also shown in Fig. 2. Supported in upper and lower rack means 11 and 12a, on

there are formed different layers occurring one above another in each of the tubes. The occurrence and characteristics of these layers are observed by means of a vertically adjustable viewing slide 12, supported in the panel sections 4 and 6 by means of a pulley arrangement described in detail in the application referred to above.

In one preferred form of my present invention, I attach my recording device at one end of a vertically adjustable viewer 12, immediately above one of the side panel sections, as 4, and this device includes a movable carriage structure operated by a wheel 52, as is best shown in Figs, 1 and 4, and means for supporting a sheet material in close proximity to the movable carrrage.

The sheet material preferably comprises a roll of recording paper 18 received in a casing 14 between a pair of brackets 16. The casing and roll of paper 18 described are preferably located just above the panel section 4 in a position such that the paper may extend along the outer surface of the panel section 4 in the manner suggested in Fig. 2.

Attached at the front side of the panel section, just below the casing 14, is a channelled guide member 20 through which the web of paper may be guided as it extends downwardly. It will be observed that, by means of the guide 20, the paper is caused to lie in slightly spaced relation to the panel section 4 and is also further guided at the lower end of the panel section 4 by means of a second channelled guide 22. The details of construction of the guides 20 and 22 are similar and are more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, the guide 20 includes a base portion and a top plate 24. The top plate 24 is formed with two spaced bars 24a and 24b, and the base portion is formed with a rib 240 which extends between these bars. This arrangement tends to maintain the paper in a guided position.

I have discovered that I may combine with a recording device such as that described, although not necessarily limited thereto, an electrically actuated marking device having unusual and highly desirable operating characteristics. I find that, by utilizing a ball point pen and by combining with the pen electrical means of special design, the pen may be moved in such a manner that it may be held against a writing surface and caused to vibrate, whereby transfer of ink may be greatly ex pedited. A positive marking may thus be accomplished at all times, even though the pen point is brought into contact with the writing repeatedly.

I have further determined that exceedingly long life operation of a ball point pen for recording purposes may be realized by causing the ball element of the pen to come into contact with the writing surface along a path of travel which extends at an angle less than 90 to the vertical so that the ball element is caused to roll slightly in its socket at the point of contact and thereafter the force of gravity, acting in conjunction with the vibrating effect of the electrical actuating means, operates to expedite a displacement of ink from a ball point barrel downwardly towards the ball element so that an adequate ink reservoir is constantly maintained at the ball socket.

In conjunction with this electrically actuated and angularly disposed pen assembly, I may further employ a special movable platen and holder structure for supporting the pen in a range of working positions as illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

The movable platen and holder structure includes a platen element 30 having end brackets 31 and 33. The platen is attached to the viewer 12 at one end thereof in some suitable manner, as by means of the screws 32. The mechanism for producing vertical movement of the viewer 12 may be of any desired form. In one suitable arrangement, the viewer may be moved by pulley operated slides movable in slide openings formed along inner surfaces of the two panel sections 4 and 6. Further details of this construction are set forth in my copending application above noted.

An important feature of the invention is the arrangement on the platen element 30 of the marking means of the invention in an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. As noted therein, the pen P may, in part, be of conventional construction, as shown in detail in Fig. 9, including a cylindrical portion in which is retained a ball element P1 in a socket P2 formed in the end of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is further formed with an ink retaing bore P3 which communicates with a chamber in a tubular casing P4 in which the tip of pen P is supported. A body of ink I, of the type commonly employed in ball point pens, is also indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 9, together with the other structural features above noted.

In one preferred arrangement, the pen P may be supported in an inclined position by means of a special holder body 35 which is formed with offset openings through which extend a rod member 34 and a screw 36, both of which members have their ends received in the brackets 31 and 33 in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is pointed out that, by means of the arrangement of parts described, the pen P is caused to extend in a downwardly angled direction with respect to the platen 30, and also with respect to the recording material 18 overlying this member 30, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The pen P is normally held in spaced relation to the material 18, as shown in Fig. 3, and in order to move the pen while supported in an inclined position into contact with material 18, I further provide electrical actuating means above referred to comprising, for example, a solenoid 37, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 7.

The solenoid 37 comprises a coil of wire wound around a reduced section 35a of the holder 35, the ends of which wire are electrically connected by conductors 46 and 48 to a source of power through a microswitch 50, as shown in Fig. 4. Slidably disposed through the reduced section 35 in a bore therein, is a sleeve 38 which is formed of a nonferrous metal. Joined to the upper end of this sleeve element 38 is a second sleeve element 40 consisting of a ferrous metal. At the upper end of sleeve element 40 is a flange 44 adapted to retain a coiled spring 42 between itself and an adjacent surface of the holder 35. The spring 42 normally seeks to hold the pen assembly in a retracted position, but is of such construction that its resistance may be overcome when the solenoid member is energized and the pen forced against the writing material 18.

The pen P may be secured within the sleeve sections 38 and 40 by any suitable means and, in the preferred form of the invention as shown, is detachably secured so that the pen and ink container may be readily removed as a unit and replaced by another similar pen unit. I accomplish this by constructing the upper end of tubular member P4 with a threaded boss 45 which is adapted to engage in a specially threaded bore formed in the upper end of the sleeve section 40, as shown in Fig. 7.

Since the sections 38 and 40 are slidably supported in the reduced section 35a, it is necessary to hold the sections against rotative movement when unthreading a pen barrel, and for this purpose I form the section 40 with a flat 40a adapted to be slidably engaged with a corresponding fiat edge 40b in the upper end of the holder bore (Fig. 8).

This pen replacability feature is considered to be of considerable importance in a device of the particular character described, for the special reason that a range of ball point pen colors may be conveniently employed in making notations of different nature, using the same pen holder, a procedure which is particularly suited to indicating a series of determinations in chromatographic analysis.

I further provide means for locating the angularly supported pen assembly in any desired position relative to the writing surface 18. In addition to the pulley adjustment for producing vertical adjustment of the viewer, as described above, I carry out a longitudinal adjustment by rotation of the screw 36 through a wheel 52 fixed at the outer end thereof. Also included is a spring loaded detent which is arranged to engage in a slot on the end of screw 36 to provide a periodic dwell at each complete rotation of the screw 36 so that a uniform horizontal spacing in markings may be transferred to the writing surface 18 in a convenient manner.

In operation, the apparatus of the invention may be utilized, for example, in the following manner: The pen is adjusted by rotation of the screw 36 until it is located in a desired position over the paper 18. A series of chromatographic determinations is then carried out by passing chemicals through the several tubes shown in Fig. 1, thus producing a series of layers occurring at different heights. The slide 12 is thereafter moved to a point of register with one of the layers. In so moving, the slide carries with it the pen and platen assembly.

Thereafter, the microswitch 50 is actuated and the pen P places a dot or a marker on the paper 18 to indicate a value relating to the chromatographic analysis.

In actuating the microswitch 50, it will be apparent that as long as the circuit is held closed the solenoid coil is continuously energized with a slight electrical pulsing effect developing particularly where an AC. current is employed. There is in this way induced a definite tendency for the pen assembly to vibrate in a slight degree. This, it is found, operates to facilitate ink transfer.

It will also be apparent that, due to the spring loaded mounting of the ball point in its armature and having in mind its angular disposition, there is an opportunity for the ball point to retract slightly as it hits the writing surface 18 and thus there may occur a slight rolling of the ball in its socket, which simulates to some degree the rolling produced when moving a ball point pen by hand. At the same time, gravity and the vibratory effect of the solenoid act to displace ink downwardly. The combined eifeot of these factors is to provide for a very long life operation of the ball point pen in a manner not before realized.

The operation of the solenoid is repeated with the slide being successively moved into positions of register with all of the interfaces between layers in one of the tubes in each case, with a mark being placed on the paper to indicate each position of register of the respective interfaces. It will be observed that the pen setting in this case remains unchanged on the screw 36 so that there may be obtained a series of dots or marks occurring in spacedapart relation along a common vertical line.

It is pointed out that movement of the solenoid assemably along a vertical axis, as described, results from the operation of the chromanalyzer slide and this, of course, occurs in the case of the application of the invention to the chromatographic analyzer apparatus. In other applications of the invention, the solenoid assembly may be moved along a lead screw of the character described, either by manual or servomechanism rotation of the screw. Thus, the servomechanism could be operated in conjunction with a simple Wheatstone bridge arrangement. Alternatively, the lead screw might remain fixed in position and a collar, fixed in position in relation to the solenoid but free to rotate, could be revolved by means of a servomechanism to move the solenoid assembly along the screw.

It is also intended that the invention should not be limited to a single point type recording. By using a source of electromotive force of a strength chosen to permit the use of very small solenoids, a number of such solenoids may be mounted on a small turntable. The turntable is rotatable to bring each solenoid, in turn, into a marking position so that pens with differently colored inks will successively bear on the paper for multi-point recording data. Alternatively, the plurality of pens might be mounted on a slide operated by a solenoid and the slide moved in relation to the solenoid mounting to bring to bear on the paper each one of the pens.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that I have provided an efficient, easily operated, and rapid recording device which may be used in various types of recording operations and which is particularly suitable for use with a chromatographic apparatus of the class described in my copending application above referred to.

While I have shown and indicated preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that various other changes may be resorted to in keeping with the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

l. A recording apparatus comprising a frame, a sheet material supported in the frame in a position to provide a substantially continuous writing surface, marking means consisting of a ball point pen having an ink body and a ball point pen element arranged to receive ink from the ink body, a pen holder means for supporting the ball point pen in an inclined position with respect to the writing surface, spring means in the holder for maintaining the ball point pen element in normally spaced relation to one side of the sheet material vertical side panel means mounted at the front of the frame, a vertically slidable carriage engaged with said vertical side panels for supporting the marking means and locating said marking means in desired positions of adjustment with respect to the writing surface, screw means occurring in threaded engagement with the carriage for pro ducing horizontal adjustment of the carriage, a solenoid device, means for supplying alternating current to the said solenoid, said solenoid being located around said pen holder, means for moving the ball point pen against the resistance of the spring into contact with the writing surface in any desired position of adjustment thereof, a switch chamber for controlling the energization of the solenoid, said solenoid, during the period in which it is held energized, being periodically displaced against the resistance of the said holder spring to impart a relatively rapid reciprocating motion to the ball point pen element whereby the ball point pen element is caused to vibrate in contact with the writing surface and facilitate the transfer of ink from the pen element to the writing surface.

2. A structure according to claim 1 in which the said pen holder includes a cylindrical sleeve for slidably supporting the pen element, said sleeve comprising a ferrous metal portion and a non-ferrous portion, the two metal portions being joined to one another at their extremities, and said solenoid device including a solenoid coil ar ranged about the ferrous metal portion in a position, when energized, to move the pen member along its longitudinal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,849,084 Hand Mar. 15, 1932 2,164,946 Scheppman July 4, 1939 2,282,929 Billstein May 12, 1942 2,424,118 Rast July 15, 1947 2,511,195 Buhrendorf et al June 13, 1950 

